16th of December

Jacobo was driving at quite some speed, he was late and aunt Martina would be quite angry.

-Aren’t you like driving very fast? -Asked Jessica worried-I mean is just a…-

-Shut up, you clearly have no idea what are you talking about.-

-But you’re going to crash, I’m sure about it-

-And if you keep talking I can’t concentrate more you know-he shouted.

Woman can really turn into an annoyance. They had been dating for about 4 months, and it was ok, she was just like he liked them, small and needed, and she was a good cook and a good f**k too, but of such things someone must not talk about, specially in front of your family and in this season.

Rio Churubusco was full of traffic as always, after some maneuvers they were near Iztacalco.

-Hey, tell me when you see the name of the street “X”-he said, focusing hardly in the little signs at night. There is so much he could complain about the city’s maintenance but alas, he had more important things to do, like flirting with the secretary and arriving late with a hangover to his mediocre life.

They found the street and the old, black door as always; people in the vecindad were already ready, so many faces and his aunt Martina was there, annoyance written on her eyes.

-You barely made it, why so late? -

-Traffic was awful. -

-The excuse of every year-she took out the cigarette of her mouth, her hands inside the squared, blue apron pockets and the curls falling on her face. Then she focused on Jessica.

-Oh yes, aunt she is Jessica. -

She got closer to shake hands with her while the older woman examined her, hesitating they finally said hi and while the other went to the bathroom Martina turned around to him.

-Where did you found her? Under the gutters?-

Here we go again, she was always like that.

-No, you see, I…-

-Everyone’s ready?! -Asked a young man in the door, the people gathered, the pair of women holding the figures in the centre and the front.

They opened they door and the crowd came out, coloured candles in hand, the children laughing and the women with the booklets in their nose.

“Ora pro nobis (…)”

In the whole street people looked outside of their windows or even opened the door to look at the congregation walking, some others joined them in their way, they were the only ones left in the neighbourhood to do it outside, most people do it in their own patios or didn’t do it anymore, Martina was always complaining about it, how people were losing more and more the respect for the traditions and the youth simply didn’t give a f**k about religion. The pious woman always went to misa de gallo until they changed the schedules and made it to be at 8, nothing is the same as it used to, so she said.

Jacobo never put much thought about it, he remembers when as a child she grabbed him, sleepy and cold towards the church, when he was finally able to decide for himself he didn’t go anymore, though he always wears the rosary she gave him.

When they returned to the vecindad and they made the ritual of asking for shelter and let them in, the real celebration started: the children playing with the fireworks, lost in their joy, women distributing the vases and plates, men talking randomly; the place was decorated with Christmas decorations all around, giving some life to the broken dreams and walls place.

Throughout the night, Martina was asking Jessica about her life and what she does. She was being polite as she could, is just that no one was never fine for Jacobo according to her.

The kids were still playing, the shiny light following their feet, while laughing and running, the red coats and flannel squared shirts moving with them.

-…So what you want to do next? -Asked Martina.

-Well I would like to finish university and maybe learn English, I don’t know but being in a better position in job wouldn’t be…-

Her left cheek felt hot, and the music was still playing, people were still talking and a big piñata was making its way through somebody’s door.

-What are you doing?!-She screamed to Jacobo, anger in his expression.

Some people turned their faces but Martina pulled her arm and went to a corner.

-Don’t you dare make a scene-she whispered-this is my house in case you’re not aware of it. �"

-This is a f*****g vecindad that’s what it is-she muttered-and you’re a very mediocre woman.-

Jacobo pushed Jessica to the wall, now some people went to see but Jacobo gave them a look and went away quickly, he looked around and then hugged Martina.

-Aunt we’re leaving-said smiling-she clearly doesn’t feel fine-

-Don’t worry dear it was nice to see you-while giving him the blessing-and do something about her, I’m sure you’ll think about something-

He smiled and pulled Jessica from the hair, it was unnoticeable.

In the car she turned to him and get free of his grip, he opened the door and pushed her into it.

-What the f**k was that?! What’s wrong with you?!-

He slapped her again in the face-No, what is wrong with you is that you better start behaving with my aunt unless you don’t want this to turn into something nasty. I will say this only once and you better keep it mind: you don’t f*****g mess with her ok?- then he looked again at the road as the city night and the smell of Christmas was all around them.

Tradition never dies.

Author's Note

I have to admit it is quite an annoyance with some terms or words in Spanish, feel free to ask about them.
This is quite lame either.

Reviews

[Wandering Violet]

I don't mind stories that have foreign words in them - it gives them a bit of mystery. I prefer dialogue in quotation marks, but that's just personal preference. Good over all.